Kad Merad was born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, on 27 March 1964 to an Algerian father and a French mother.

In 1990, he was hired by Ouï FM, the Paris rock radio station where he met Olivier Baroux.

The duet most known as Kad & Olivier began working together and started their own show, the Rock'n Roll Circus, introducing some of their most famous sketches (Pamela Rose, Teddy Porc Fidèle...).

In 2007, Kad received the César Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Je vais Bien, ne t'en fais pas!

The next year, he starred as Phillipe Abrams in the French movie Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis.